Kevin Matsunaga, his family, colleagues, and students have good reason to celebrate. Matsunaga, a teacher and technology coordinator at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, was awarded the district Teacher of the Year award at a Board of Education meeting Thursday on
Kevin Matsunaga, his family, colleagues, and students have good reason to celebrate. Matsunaga, a teacher and technology coordinator at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, was awarded the district Teacher of the Year award at a Board of Education meeting Thursday on O‘ahu.
Seven teachers from each of Hawai‘i’s school districts were honored at the ceremony where the state Teacher of the Year was announced for the first time. That honor went to Hawai‘i district teacher Pascale Pinner from Hilo Intermediate School.
Matsunaga, a lifetime resident of Kaua’i, has been teaching for 14 years. He started at Kamakahelei when it first opened. This is his eighth year teaching at the school.
“I originally hired Kevin for the positions he now holds at Chiefess,” said Maggie Cox, the Kaua’i representative to the Board of Education.
“He is an excellent teacher and has far exceeded my expectations. I’m extremely happy and proud that he is being recognized for the great work he’s done with the youth of Kauai‘,” continued Cox.
For those unfamiliar with Matsunaga, he is entirely dedicated to his students, community, and education in general. He gives credit to the many positive influences he had growing up on Kaua’i.
His father was a public school librarian and at an early age, Matsunaga realized he had a gift for working with his younger cousins and family.
He credits the collective learning experience and education he received on Kaua‘i.
“All of my teachers helped to shape who I’ve become,” said Matsunaga.
Serving as a great example for his students, Matsunaga utilizes his class in the broadcast arts to fill an important community need by making public service announcements, promotional material, and video documentaries for the county, various community organizations, and events.
Perhaps you have seen some of the public service announcements he and his class have produced for the Mayor’s “You Speed, You Lose” campaign- or possibly the commercial they produced for Déjà Vu sports wear.
These and other productions won his students top honors at the Student Television Network Challenge, a national middle school competition held for the first time earlier this year.
This weekend, Matsunaga and his class will be producing a video for the Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital anniversary celebration.
Ongoing projects include a weekly radio broadcast updating the community on Chiefess Kamakahelei activities and a live daily morning announcement show for their school.
The work Matsunaga and his students are doing has a global impact as well. They are currently finishing a music video for a hula museum that is opening in Japan later this month.
A humble Matsunaga is quick to emphasize that he is not alone in his efforts, nor is the honor of being district Teacher of the Year exclusively his.
“Our program gets a lot of attention sometimes, but I always bring it back to this — it’s a shared, collective effort,” said Matsunaga.
“I have wonderful students each year. Their parents are great too. The parents take a lot of time getting their children to and from events and shooting locations (off campus),” continued Matsunaga. “Sometimes the parents are in the productions.”
Matsunaga explained that, “our administration, fellow teachers, and community’s belief and support in us is tremendous.”
“My family at home is great too. They often have to sacrifice because of the time I commit to projects outside of the classroom,” he said.
Hawai‘i has always strived to recognize outstanding teachers for their continued dedication and service. The state teacher of the year award program preceded the national equivalent. Now the state has linked up with the national competition to ensure that the Hawai‘i Teacher of the Year is given the opportunity to be recognized nationally.
Diane Nitta, the Kaua‘i district, Department of Education, personnel specialist and coordinator, explained the nomination and application process.
In early spring, nomination packets are distributed to all district principals and superintendents. Completed nomination and applications are due in the beginning of June.
Anyone can nominate a teacher, including parents, but there is an additional application that the nominated teacher must complete in order to be considered.
“The application for nominated teachers includes questions regarding their educational history, professional development, biography, community involvement, and teaching philosophy,” said Nitta.
Nitta pointed out “teacher of the year nominees are the humble, hardworking types who don’t seek out public recognition — they do it (in their quest) to make positive contributions to public education.” The description certainly fits Matsunaga.
Anyone interested in nominating a teacher or learning more about the Teacher of the Year program is encouraged to contact Diane Nitta at 274-3507.
